Bike Items that Have Little to Nothing to Do With DC

New helmet technology

Witheroe says his research showed current bicycle helmets exposed several deficiencies, including user fitting errors (some even worn backwards) and material deficiencies. Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) liners inside many helmets can shatter at impact and provide less impact absorption after multiple impacts. He also says the aggressive styling of some helmets can be damaging to cyclists’ heads and necks on impact and also loose-fitting helmets can dislodge before impact, causing another set of injuries.

Witheroe’s helmet avoids large protrusions and creates a rounder profile. The hard outer shell serves two purposes - to distribute load over a large area thereby reducing the hardness of the liner, and to decrease friction with the road surface.

In preparation for the Olympics, Vancouver added a new transit line to the airport. Where a bridge was built across the Fraser River an active transportation bridge was included. And unlike the Wilson Bridge, the bike/ped element opened first.

TransLink decided to open the bridge before the Canada Line begins service because bikes will be not be allowed on the new trains opening day.

“This gives them a chance to enjoy what was done for cyclists,” Snider said.

Cyclists can access the Canada Line starting Tuesday.

Cycling advocates were hugely involved in pushing for the new bridge and its design.

A San Francisco cafe wants to use some of it's curb front parking for bike parking. (via GGW)

Bicycle protesters in NYC need Ruling that the NYPD did not violate cyclists constitutional rights by requiring parade permits.

Another reason to make sure you're visible in the dark, negligence

Razorback Cab involved a plaintiff-bicyclist who was hit by a cab early one morning on a city street while it was still dark. There was evidence that the cyclist was wearing dark clothing, that his bicycle had no lights or visible rear reflectors, and that he simply could not be seen. In the cyclist's suit against the cab company, the jury rendered a defendant's verdict. The circuit court granted a new trial, stating that there was no evidence that the cab driver could not see the bicycle. Our supreme court reversed and held that the circuit court manifestly abused its discretion in substituting its view of the evidence for the jury's

What does one have to do to be disorderly at RAGBRAI?

This appeal arises from an action ..against employees of the Iowa State Patrol ... arising out of Leventhal's arrest and handcuffing for the crime of disorderly conduct during the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI).

Rep. Eric Cantor out of Virginia, continues to hate on bike trails.

The offices of Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) released a report of 12 expenditures from the stimulus bill dubbed the “12 Spending Lowlights.” The list includes:

A $4 million allocation from the FHA to construct a 2.66 mile bike trail in Massachusetts. The planned corridor will provide a new path connecting the Manhan Bike Trail to the Northampton and Norwottuck Trails. Once the new trail is completed, the Manhan bikers will finally have access to a local fast food restaurant in Northampton.

But,

According to the federal government’s stimulus tracking Web site, recovery.gov, projects in Cantor’s district have received $130.4 million and 108 jobs have been created or saved

“Just months after voting against the Recovery Act, Cantor sought millions of funds for high-speed rail,”

Cantor — the No. 2 Republican in the House — hosted job fairs in his district last August and November at which many of the employers looking for new hires were recipients of stimulus cash.

I wonder if any of those projects make his list?

Comments

[RatherBeBiking]

One clarification : NYC cyclists have been required to apply for parade permits for group rides of 50 or more since 2007. So that's not news. The news is the recent ruling that the NYPD did not violate cyclists constitutional rights by requiring a permit.

[SJE]

From my understanding of the NYC situation, it does not clearly determine what constitutes a "parade." A spontaneous assembly of people would fall outside the "parade" requirement, while a centrally organized ride would fall within it. It would be unconstitutional to violate a spontaneous aggregation of people, without banning traffic.

Alternatively, CM could force cyclists to travel in groups of 10-20, separated by a few minutes. This would not violate the 50 person limit.

[SJE]

The RAGBRAI case, as least from the court documents, sounds like somewhat selfrighteous biker (Leventhal) vs overly sensitive cop (Schaeffer). Cop gets benefit of doubt, Leventhal loses.

[John]

The dude in the picture looks like Speed Racer.

[O2]

There is a such thing as a self righteous biker??

[greg]

that helmet doesnt have enough vents.

[Lee Watkins]

I went to school near the bike trails around Northampton - they are EXTREMELY popular. there are 5 colleges within a 2-mile radius of that location, including UMASS Amherst's gigantic student body, Smith College, Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mt Holyoke College. Most students don't have cars - bikes are much more common. The trails are there by popular demand.